Food, Land & People in a Changing America

The story of American Agriculture

1877-2009

What is agriculture?

1881 - Hybridized corn produced.1887- The hatch Experiment Station Act

was passed, providing federal grants to states for agricultural

experimentation.1888 - The first long haul shipment of a

refrigerated freight car was made

from California to New York.1892 - The gasoline tractor was built by John Froelich.

Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

1870- Farmers make up 53 % of the population.1890- Farmers make up 43 % of the population.

1900 – George Washington Carver, conducts important research on peanuts, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and cotton.1902 - The Reclamation Act was passed, leading to water projects for irrigation.1906 - The Pure food and Drug Law was enacted.1914 - Establishment of the federal- state Extension Service to

direct the education for farmers.

Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

1920 - Agriculture prices collapse.1932 - Dust Bowl conditions develop.1933 - The Farm Credit Administration was established, creating specialized credit for agriculture.1938 - The Agricultural Adjustment Act of 1938 was enacted, authorizing farm price supports and adjustment programs.

1921 – 1940 The Great Depression1930- Farmers make up 21 % of the population.

Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

1945 - Frozen foods become popular.1949 - Agricultural Act of 1949 passed, incorporating the principle of flexible price support and giving surplus food to the needy.1950 - Farm Surpluses1954 - More tractors than work horses on the farm.

1940- Farmers make up 18% of the population.

Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

1955 - Nine labor hours to produce 125 bushels of wheat on 5 acres (1830 – 275 labor hours to produce 100 bushels of wheat on 5 acres.).1955 - Sterile flies used for screwworm control.1964 - Nation Food Stamp Act passed.

Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

(bushel = 60 pounds of wheat)

1965 – Five labor hours to produce 100 bushels of wheat on 3.3 acres.

1930 - One farmer supplies 10 persons in the U.S. and abroad.1940 - One farmer supplies 11 persons in the U.S. and abroad.1950 - One farmer supplies 16 persons in the U.S. and abroad.1960 - One farmer supplies 26 persons in the U.S. and abroad.

2000

Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

1972 - Russian wheat sales bring higher farm prices.1985 - Passage of 1985 Food Security Act shifts U.S. farm policy toward market orientation. Anti- smoking campaigns cut U.S.

tobacco production.1986 - Worst drought ever to hit Midwest farmers.

1980 - One farmer supplies 76 persons in the U.S. and abroad.

Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

1989 - The number of U.S. farm acres retired through the Conservation Reserve Program reaches 30 million.1992 - The use of conservation tillage methods, which leave crop residues

in the field to combat erosion continues to rise.1993 - Passage of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).

Advances in biotechnology reach the agricultural producer and consumer level.

Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

1990- Farmers make up 3% of the population.

1995 - Farmers begin using satellite technology to track and plan their farming practices.1995 - USDA meat inspection modernized for safer food.1999 - Farm Families make up less than 10% of rural population but rural areas experience strong growth.

2000- Farmers make up 1.5% of the population, or 5 million of 304 million.

2009- One farmer supplies 144 persons in the U.S. and abroad.

Concentric ring patterns were due to worn or plugged nozzles. Pie-shaped purple area indicated a pivot stall that caused over-watering. The higher-elevated South half of field shows crop stress due to poorly performing pressure regulators.

Transformed America, the Food, Land and People

Food, Land and People = Agriculture

• How do you define agriculture now?• What do you think Ben Franklin

George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson would say about agriculture today?

• How has agriculture changed?• Have the uses of agricultural goods

changed?• Does America need agriculture?